Thank You, Gannon

I have had many highs and many lows during my four years at Gannon University.  When someone (adult figure) asked me if I was happy with my choice of college I always referred back to the amazing education program Gannon has and left it at that.  If it was a friend, nine times out of ten I most likely would had answered "no".  However, over the past week, with graduation (and my departure) quickly approaching, I have reflected a lot about my time at Gannon, to the point that I would now answer the question with a proud and honest yes.

I am not the same person I was when I began college.  I think this is true for all the seniors who will walk across the same stage I will next weekend.  College is a time of new experiences, new friends, and new freedom.  It's a time of change.  Gannon has changed me.  While this change was not always for the better at the time, I have learned from my past and have done my best to turn all the negatives into positives.

I believe that when you move away for college, the four years change you differently than if you live at home or stay near home.  I know for a fact that I would not have had the experiences I had freshmen and sophomore year if I was living closer to or at home.  I learned some lessons the hard way those first two years and contemplated transferring schools about every other week.  Looking back, I now realize it wasn't the institution I was attending who was making those choices.. it was me.  I was choosing to surround myself with poor friends and people with unlike interests.  It was me who chose to go against my core values and beliefs in life, not Gannon.

I made many mistakes (and still continue to do), but as my brother tells me, "it's not a mistake if you learned from it.  As long as you learn from an experience it's a lesson, not a mistake".  If it wasn't for those mistakes I made after leaving home I would not be the individual I am today.  If I stayed at home, I would not be as independent or as strong as a person.  I would not have the strength to be moving abroad in a short month.

It's funny how when you know the end of a chapter is near you begin to reevaluate every past choice and decision you've made.  While I have spent a lot of time looking back over the four years, I can't change anything.. but I wouldn't want to. While my past was not always pretty, it has prepared me for the future and my next chapter of living in Thailand teaching English.

So, I want to thank Gannon for becoming my home away from home for the past four years.  We have not always seen eye to eye and I'm still not a fan of Erie winters but without Gannon I would not be where I am today.  Not only have they provided me with a great education and experiences in my field, Gannon has provided me with "life education" as well.  I have also been lucky enough to meet a few life-long friends (who's support as I begin to slightly freak out is beyond appreciated).  

Now when someone asks where I went to school, I can proudly say Gannon University.